Proponents of such acronyms encouraging new users to look the information up themselves are often discouraging questions that could easily be answered using the FAQs, Wiki or Google.

RTFM frequents questions that common sense should have precluded asking.

Some may choose to reply in this fashion rather than leaving the newbie without a response so as to clarify what types of questions are considered inappropriate, unintelligent or inconsiderate of others' time.

originally: "read the field manual" used by WWII soldiers when asked basic questions by new enlistees.

Kid 1 "How do you side jump like that."
Me "RTFM."
Kid 1 "Whats RTFM?"
Me "Read The Fucking Manual, what are you dumb?"
Kid 1 "Sorry if I don't use internet slang in everyday life."
Rest of class "LOL"